Mechanical signal combiner



Dec. 1, 1964 R. E. ARKO 3,159,712

MECHANICAL SIGNAL COMBINER Filed Aug. 30, 1961 INVENTOR ROBERT E. ARKO ATTORNEY United States Patent C) 3,159,712 MECHANICAL SIGNAL CUMBINER Robert E. Arko, Mount Prospect, EL, assignorto Teletype Corporation, Skolrie, lll., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 135,049

7 Claims. (Cl. 173-22) This invention relates to an encoding apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for combining the outputs of two signal generators to form an enciphered message.

In the cryptographic art it is often desired to combine a message either from a tape or keyboard of a teletypewriter with a control message from another tape or recording device to form a coded message in another perforated tape. It is generally desirable that the two tape readers or signal generators be mechanically interconnected rather than electrically interconnected to combine their outputs mechanicmly for actuating a recording device to record the combined or coded message.

An object of this invention is to mechanically combine the outputs from a first signal generator and second signal generator.

Another object of this invention is to mechanically operate a recording device with the combined outputs of the first and second'signal generators.

Another object of this invention is to mechanically interconnect a pair of first and second signal generators with a recording device and a'page printer to simultaneously print as a message the output of the first signal generator and record as an encoded message in the recording device the combined outputs of the first and second signal generators.

The invention features a shaft rotatable by the first signal generator for actuating the selector mechanism of a page printer and a coaxial sleeve rotatable by the second signal generator and operable in conjunction with the shaft whereby when the shaft and the coaxial sleeve have been rotated in the same direction a first condition is recorded in the recording device for the encoded messageand whereby when the shaft and concentric sleeve have been rotated in opposite directions a second condition is recorded.

The invention also features a scissors arrangement of levers interconnecting the recording device for the coded message and a shaft operable by the first signal generator and a coaxial sleeve operable by the second signal generator, so that movement of the shaft and the coaxial sleeve in the same direction causes a bodily movement of the whole scissors arrangement but does not effect movement of the signal responsive selector element in the recording device for the coded message, and wherein movement of either the shaft or concentric sleeve in an opposite direction causes a spreading of the scissors arrangement and actuation of the signal responsive selector element. of the recording device for the coded message.

The invention consists of an inner shaft and outer co axial oscillatable sleeve which together operate a scissorslike arrangement of levers to actuate mechanically the selector mechanism of a recording device. The inner shaft is operablyconnected to the selector mechanisms of a message signal generator and a page printer so that operation of the selector mechanism of the message-signal generator rocks the inner shaft to present the same selective condition to the page ,printers selector mechanism. The coaxial oscillatable sleeve is operably connected to the selector mechanism of an encrypting code second signal generator which shares a common drive shaft with the message signal generator so that the outputs of the first and second signal generators are in timed relationship. Both the shaft and oscillatable coaxial member have an arm secured at their extremities for co- 7 3,159,712 Patented Dec. 1, 1964 operation with a scissors-like arrangement of levers which consists of a primary lever pivotable about a fixed point at one of its extremities and a secondary lever pivoted to the primary lever at a point approximately midway between the extremities of the primary lever. The secondary lever has an abutment at one end for actuating the signal responsive selector element of the recording device, which is preferably a tape perforator. When the shaft and oscillatable coaxial member havebeen rotated, their attached arms move in opposite directions to force open the scissors-like arrangement of levers, causing the abutment of the secondary lever to pivot the selector member of the recording device to register one selective-condition. The other condition is registered when the shaft and oscillatable coaxial sleeve have been rotated in the same direction and have rotated the scissors-like arrangement as a unit about the fixed pivot for the primary lever but because of the lack of relative movement between the primary and secondary levers there is no actuation of the selector member of the recording device for the encoded message.

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had from the following description taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the all-mechanical connection between the first and second tape readers, page printer and tape perforator;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shaft, oscillatable sleeve, and scissors arrangement for conveying the conjoint elfect of the operation first and second tape readers to the reperforator;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are elevational views of the primary and secondary levers in the positions of like mark signals and like space signals, respectively.

In reference to FIG. 1, there is shown in schematic form a first signal generator 11 which generates the permutative marking and spacing telegraphic signals representing the code message and a second signal generator 10 for generating permutative marking and spacing telegraphic signals representing the control signals to be combined with the message signals to form a coded message which is perforated in a tape by a recording'means 13. A page printer 12 is connected mechanically to the first signal generator 11 only so that a typed copy of the uncoded message is produced by this printer simultaneously with the recording of the encoded message by the recording means 13.

The signal generators l0 and 11 are preferably tape 7 readers of a type which are commercially available as separate units. Fundamentally, they are single contact signal generators with the transmitting contacts removed. In the present instance, the signal generators 10 and 11 have their respective operating shafts (not shown) coupled together to assure that the message signals and the enciphering key signals will be properly combined in timed relation one with the other. The page printer 12 and recording means or tape perforator means 13 are likewise preferably of a'type commercially available. For refer ence to a specific and suitable signal generator, page printer, and tape perforator and to facilitate understanding of the connections between the various selector mechanisms of each of the units, the disclosure of Patent No.

terponent member '71 and the abutment portions W- and 95 on the arms 92 and 93 as are used to designate the interponent shown in FIG. 4 of Patent No. 2,993,951. Upon the sensing of a perforation in the tape, which denotes a marking condition, in the first signal generator 11, the interponent 71 will first move rightwardly, to bring abutment portion 94 in position over a corresponding abutment 96 on the transfer rocker 74 to pivot the transfer rocker 74 about a central pivot 98 in a counterclockwise direction when the interponent '71 is subequently drawn downwardly by the distributor camshaft (not shown) in the well-known manner. An articulated connection between the transfer rocker 74 and the rocker member 18 will turn the shaft 16 in a clockwise direction. Rocking of the shaft 16 and the rocker member 24 secured to the shaft 16, in a clockwise direction, allows the spring biased selector member 26 of the page printer 12 to move to its upper (solid line) position, which is the marking position. Manifestly then, a leftward movement of the interponent member 71 will cause abutment 5 on arm 93 to engage the corresponding abutment 97 on the transfer rocker 74 to cause the transfer rocker '74 to turn in a clockwise direction about the pivot 98 and transfer its motion through the articulate connection with the arm 13 to the shaft 16 to rotate it and attached rocker member 24 counterclockwise pushing the selector member 26 of the page printer 12 downwardly in a clockwise direction to a spacing (dotted line) condition.

The second signal generator is of the same general construction as the first signal generator 11. The sensing of a marking condition in a tape passing through this second signal generator 10 will cause the interponent 72 to move its upper end rightwardly, placing abutment 84 on arm 8?. in a position to engage and rotate the corresponding abutment 86 on the transfer rocker 73 in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot 99. The articulate connection between the transfer rocker 73 and the lever arm 19 will transmit the movement of the transfer rocker 73 and rotate in a clockwise direction the lever 19 secured to oscillatable sleeve 20 that is coaxial with shaft 16.

Pivotally secured on a fixed pivot post 31 on the frame of the reperforator 13 and mounted directly above the se lector member 21 of the selector mechanism of the perforator in the recording means 13 is a scissors-like arrangement 29 consisting of a primary lever 27 and a secondary lever 28. The primary lever 27 is pivotally mounted at one extremity to the fixed pivot post 31 and has at its opposite end an upwardly cum/ed portion 36 with a transversely extending tab member 41 extending into the path of oscillation of both the actuator arms 22 and 23 secured to shaft 16 and sleeve 20, respectively for engagement by the lower surface of either of the actuator arms when rotated furthermost in the counterclockwise direction or by both of the actuator arms whenever both are in the extreme counterclockwise position. The secondary lever 28 is pivotally mounted at a pivot point 32 approximately midway between the extremities of the primary lever 2'7 and, also, midway between its own extremities and has a downwardly curved portion 36 with a transversely extending tab member extending into the path of oscillation of both of the actuator arms 22 and 23 for engagement by the upper surface of whichever arm is rotated the furthest clockwise or by the upper surfaces of both of the actuator arms when they are in their extreme clockwise position. The opposite end of the secondary lever 28 has an abutment portion 37 resting on the selector member 21 of the tape perforator in the recording device 13. A spring 39 is connected to the primary and secondary levers 27 and 28 and tends to bias them attrahently toward a parallel relationship one with another.

The spring 38 biases the selector member 21 upwardly to a marking condition until such time as sufficient force is exerted by the secondary lever 28 on the selector member 21 to overcome the biasing force of the spring 38. The secondary lever 28 will exert sufficient force to move the selector member 21 from its upper or marking position to its lower or spacing position only when the actuator arms 22 and 23 are spread apart as in FIG. 2 and thereby have rotated the primary and secondary levers 27 and 23 in opposite directions against the tension of contractile spring 30. For example, when moving from the position shown in FIG. 3, representative of two marking signals, to the position shown in FIG. 2, representative of a marking and spacing signal, the actuator arm 23 will move downwardly and rotate primary lever 27 clockwise thereby moving the pivot post 32 for the secondary lever 23 downwardly. As the tab member 4%) of the secondary lever 28 is held stationary in the upward position by actuator arm 22 downward movement of the pivot post 32 causes the downwardly curved portion 37 of the secondary lever to pivot counterclockwise about the pivot post 32 resulting in the movement of the selector member 21 downwardly to the spacing position shown in FIG. 2.

Then, if two marking signals were present in signal generators it) and 11, the actuator arm 23 would move upwardly into alignment with the actuator arm 22 and the primary and secondary levers 27 and 2 8 would be at a minimum separation and the pivot post 32 would have moved upwardly from the position shown in FIG. 3. Thus, allowing abutment portion 37 on secondary lever 28 to move upwardly and permit the selector member 21 to rise under the influence of its spring 38. However, if two spacing signals are generated and the previous positions of the actuator arms 22 and 23 are of those shown in FIG. 2, the actuator arm 22 will rotate counterclockwise into alignment with the actuator arm 23, FIG. 4, and the following tab member 40 of the secondary lever 28 will rotate clockwise about pivot post 32 to lift the opposite end of the secondary lever 2% out of engagement with the selector member 21, which will then rise to-a marking position under the influence of itsspring 38.

The operation of the signal combiner can be best understood by considering in detail several representative inputs and the resultant output. For the message signal generator Til, page printer 12 and recording device 13, the normal stop condition is a marking signal and the normal start condition is a spacing signal, as is the standard practice in the telegraph art. However, in the control signal generator 10 both the stopping and starting conditions will be marking signals rather than the starting condition being a spacing signal. This is necessitated by the fact that if both the inputs to the signal combiner at the start of character were spacing signals, as they would be except for this departure from standard practice, then the output of signal combiner would be a marking signal for these two like or spacing inputs and this marking signal would not be differentiated from the stopping condition already appearing in the recording'device 13. Hence, the recording device would not start in synchronism with the signal generators 1i) and 11 and page printer 12. The signal generator 10 has been modified to give a marking rather than a spacing pulse in the first intelligence bit of the character merely by biasing the interponent 72 associated with the start element position in the start-stop telegraph code to a marking position so as to give out a marking pulse when the signal generator 10 starts sensing each and every character.

As the quiescent state of the signal generators 10 and 11 is a marking or stop pulse, the actuator arms 22 and 23 will both be in their marking positions, which is that of FIG. 3. Upon the sensing of the first character in the message signal generator 11 the normal start condition will be spacing and interponent 71 will move to the left in FIG. 1 to place abutment over abutment 97 on transfer rocker member 74 so that upon subsequent downward movement of the interponent 71 by the cam member (not shown), the transfer member 74 will rotate in a clockwise direction and through an articulate connection with lever army 18 will rotate both the lever arm 18 and shaftld in a counterclockwise direction. The counterclockwise movement of the shaft 16 and attached actuator arm 24 willmove the biased selector member 26 of the page printer 12 from a marking condition to a spacing condition (dotted lines) and thereby start the selector mechanism of the page printer operating in the well-known manner as though an electrical spacing signal had been received by the electromagnet (not shown) that normally operates the selector member 26 of a page printer. counterclockwise movement of the shaft 16 and its associated actuator arm 22 imparts a clockwise rotation to primary lever 27 about the fixed pivot point 31 as the actuator arm 22 cams the extending tab member 41 on the primary lever 27 downwardly.

Concurrently, with the input of the start signal of the signal generator 11 into the signal combiner, the signal generator will be furnishing a starting pulse input to the signal combiner; however, for the reason explained above, this input is a marking input rather than the normally spacing input. To accomplish this marking input, the interponent 72 of the signal generator 11 for the starting signal remains biased rightwardly and moves downwardly upon rotation of its associated cam. However, downward movement of interponent 72 causes no movement of its transfer rocker 73 or its associated actuator arm 23 as these parts are already positioned in the positions associated with a marking condition, it being recalled that the actuator arms 22 and 23 and transfer rockers 73 and 74 were positioned in their marking positions (FIG. 3) during a quiescent or stop pulse period. Therefore, the actuator arm 23 remains in the position shown in FIG. 3 holding tab member 40 upwardly, so that when the actuator arm 22 associated with the starting pulse of the signal generator 11 moves downwardly to its spacing position forcing tab member 41 and primary lever 27 to rotate clockwise about pivot 31 to carry pivot post 32 in a clockwise arcuate path, the downwardly curved portion of the secondary lever 28 will rotate counterclockwise about pivot post 32. counterclockwise movement of the downwardly curved portion 37 will cam the selector member 21 downwardly to a spacing condition to start the recording device as though an electrical spacing signal had been received by an electromagnet (not shown) that normally operates the selector member 21 in a recording device of this type.

If during the next signal interval unlike conditions are present in the first and second signal generators 10 and 11 and are of reversed character, that is, there is a marking condition present in the signal generator 11 and a spacing condition present in the signal generator 10, the actuator arms 22 and 23 will merely reverse their positions and will attain the position shown in FIG. 2. Duringthe movement of the actuator arms 22 and 23 in opposite directions they will be aligned at about the midpoint of their movements and at this point, the actuator arm 22 that had previously been. engaging tab member 41 of the primary lever 27 will now pick up tab member 40 of the secondary lever 28 moving it back to its former upwardly position and in a like manner actuator arm 23 will now pick up tab member 41 of the primary lever 27 moving it back to its former downward position thereby spreading the scissors-like lever arrangement 29 to. record a spacing condition, as shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, it is apparent that for unlike inputs that primary and secondary levers 27 and 28 will attain the spread relationship shown in FIG. 2 i

for a subsequent downward movement. Because the transfer rocker member 74 of the message signal generator 11 has been retained in its counterclockwise marking position by its conventional detent (not shown), no movement is imparted to transfer rocker member 74, lever 18, shaft 16, or actuator arm 22 during the downward movement of interponent 71. However, during the downward movement of interponent 72, the transfer rocker 73 will be displaced from it's clockwise position when abutment 84 engages the corresponding abutment 86 on the transfer rocker 73 and pivots the transfer rocker 73 to its counterclockwise marking position and thereby through articulate connection with its lever arm 19 turn both the sleeve 20 and actuator arm 23 in aclockwise direction, i.e., upwardly to the marking position of FIG. 3. As the actuator arm 22 did not move its previous marking position, the tab member 46 will be held in its upward position. When the actuatorarm 23 rotates clockwise to a position coinciding with that of the actuator arm 23, as depicited in FIG. 3, the tab member 41 on primary lever 27 will follow the upward movement of the actuator arm 23 under the influence of its spring 36 to the position shown in FIG. 3. As secondary lever 28 is pivotally supported at 32 on the primary lever 27, the upward movement of the primary lever 27 carries the secondary lever 28 upwardly with it as a unit and thus the abutment portion 37 of the secondary lever 28 will be lifted upwardly as the scissorslike arrangement of levers 29 swings upwardly as a unit, permitting the selector member 21 to be pulled upwardly by its spring 38 to its marking position.

If the next signal sensed in the first and second signal generators 19 and 11 were of the spacing nature, these like inputs would merely result in a reversal of direction of rotation of the actuator arms 22 and 23 and movement of the scissors-like arrangement 29 as a unit to the position shown in FIG. 4. The secondary lever 28 rotates about its pivot 32 to lift the bent portion 37 free of the selector member 21 to leave it remaining in the marking position.

From the description thus far it should be apparent that a pair of like signals in the signal generators 10 and 11 will, through the signal combiner, cause a marking condition to be present in the selector mechanism of the reperforator 13 and that unlike signals present in the signal generators 11 and 10 will, through the signal combiner, cause the selector member 21 of the reperforator 13 to record a spacing condition whereas the page printer 12 will record only the condition present in the message signal generator 10.

Although only one embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and described in the foregoing specification it will be understood that invention is not limited to the specific embodiment described but is capable of modification and rearrangement and substitution of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a signal encoding apparatus having a first signal generator for the message to be encoded and a second signal generator for providing control signals to be combined with the message to form an encoded message the combination comprising a first means movable in one direction in response to a signal of one condition from a message signal generator and movable in a second direction in response to a second condition from said message signal generator, a second means movable in one direction in response to a signal of a first condition from the control signal generator and movable in a second direction in response to a signal of a second condition from said control signal generator, a first pivotally mounted lever having an end actuated by said first and second means, and a second lever pivoted on said first lever and having one end actuated by said first and second means and having its opposite end indicating a marking or spacing condition by its position.

2. In a signal combiner apparatus for combiningthe I signals of a message signal generator and the signals of a control signal generator to form a combined message, the combination comprising a message generator rocker bail movable to a marking or spacing position when a marking or spacing condition exists in said message signal generator, a shaft connected to said message signal generator rocker bail for rotation thereby, a control signal generator bail movable to a first or second position corresponding to a marking or spacing condition existing in the control signal generator, a shaft connected to said control signal generator bail for rotation thereby, and a pair of lever arms pivoted intermediate their ends to form a scissors arrangement engageable with said shafts to register a marking or spacing condition as the pivoted lever arms of the scissors arrangement are opened or closed by the rotation of said shafts.

3. In an encoding apparatus comprising a pair of signal controlled rocker members arranged to respond simultaneously to signals from different sources, an oscillatable shaft driven by one of said rocker members, an oscillatable sleeve surrounding said shaft and driven by the other of said rocker members, an actuator arm fixed to said oscillatable shaft, a second actuator arm attached to said oscillatable sleeve, a scissors arrangement comprising a primary lever and a secondary lever each having a corresponding one of its ends engageable by both of said actuator arms, a fixed pivot for oscillatably supporting the other end of said primary lever, a pivot stud on said primary lever adjacent the midpoint of its length for pivotally supporting said secondary lever, and a signal responsive selector member disposed adjacent the other end of said secondary levers and controllable thereby to be presented in one of two operative positions upon opening of said scissors arrangement and in the other of two operative positions upon closure of said scissors arrangement.

4. An apparatus for combining plural marking and spacing signal inputs to form therefrom a single marking or spacing signal output to a recording device comprising a first shaft operable in one direction to signify a marking condition and operable in the opposite direction to signify a spacing condition, a second shaft operable in one direction to signify a marking condition and operable in the opposite direction to signify a spacing condition, a first pivotally mounted lever having an end biased into engagement with and for movement by said first and second shafts, a second lever pivoted on said first lever and having one end biased into engagement with and for movement by said first and second shafts and having its other end operably associated with said recording means to indicate as a result of the combined signals a single marking or spacing signal.

5. An apparatus for combining plural marking and spacing signal inputs from a first and second signal generator to form a single marking or spacing signal output to a signal registering device comprising a first shaft operable in one direction by said first signal generator to signify a marking condition in the first signal generator and movable in the opposite direction to signify a spacing condition in said first signal generator, a second shaft operable in one direction by said second signal generator to signify a marking condition in said second signal generator and operable in the opposite direction to signify a spacing condition in said second signal generator, a first arm connected to said first shaft and movable therewith to signify the marking and spacing conditions, a second arm connected to said second shaft and movable therewith to signify the marking and spacing conditions, a first lever having one end extending under said first and second arms and operable thereby, and a second lever pivoted on said first lever and having one end extending over said first and second arms for operation by the movements of said first and second arms and having its opposite end connected to said signal registering device to indicate a marking or spacing condition by its position.

6. In a signal apparatus for combining the signals of a message signal generator and the signals of a control signal generator to form a combined message in another signal generator, the combination comprising a message generator rocker bail movable to marking and spacing positions, a control signal generator rocker bail movable to marking and spacing positions, a shaft connected to said message generator bail and rockable thereby, a shaft connected to said control signal generator rocker bail for rotation thereby, a first arm connected to said first shaft for rotation thereby, a second arm connected to said second shaft for rotation thereby, a first pivoted lever for engagement with said first and second arms, a second lever for engagement with said first and second arms and pivoted on said first lever to form a scissors-like arrangement with said first lever, and a biasing means attrahently urging said first and second levers into engagement with the first and second arms.

7. A mechanical signal combiner comprising a first signal generator for a message to be encoded, a second signal generator for generating signals to be combined with the message to form an encoded message, a first shaft connected to the first signal generator for rotation to indicate the message signals, a second shaft connected to said second signal generator for rotation to indicate the control signals, and a first pivotally mounted lever having an end actuated by said first and second shafts, and a second lever pivoted on said first lever and having one end actuated by said first and second shafts to move its opposite end in one direction When said first and second shafts are moved to the same position and to move said opposite end in a second direction when said first and second shafts are moved to different positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,402,082 Reiber June 11, 1946 

1. IN A SIGNAL ENCODING APPARATUS HAVING A FIRST SIGNAL GENERATOR FOR THE MESSAGE TO BE ENCODED AND A SECOND SIGNAL GENERATOR FOR PROVIDING CONTROL SIGNALS TO BE COMBINED WITH THE MESSAGE TO FORM AN ENCODED MESSAGE THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A FIRST MEANS MOVABLE IN ONE DIRECTION IN RESPONSE TO A SIGNAL OF ONE CONDITION FROM A MESSAGE SIGNAL GENERATOR AND MOVABLE IN A SECOND DIRECTION IN RESPONSE TO A SECOND CONDITION FROM SAID MESSAGE SIGNAL GENERATOR, A SECOND MEANS MOVABLE IN ONE DIRECTION IN RESPONSE TO A SIGNAL OF A FIRST CONDITION FROM THE CONTROL SIGNAL GENERATOR AND MOVABLE IN A SECOND DIRECI TION IN RESPONSE TO A SIGNAL OF A SECOND CONDITION FROM SAID CONTROL SIGNAL GENERATOR, A FIRST PIVOTALLY MOUNTED LEVER HAVING AN END ACTUATED BY SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEANS, AND A SECOND LEVER PIVOTED ON SAID FIRST LEVER AND HAVING ONE END ACTUATED BY SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEANS AND HAVING ITS OPPOSITE END INDICATIING A MARKING OR SPACING CONDITION BY ITS POSITION. 